The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-11-17

best advantage, by reason OF the
splendOrs of lights and flowers which
prevailed everywhere. There was to
be grand family dinner given in
special honor of a young gentleman, a
somewhat distant relation, recently re-
turned from prolonged stay abroad.
He had landed in America some weeks
back, but was now first come to this
his native city to pay his respects to
the family with due form and cere-
mOny.
Violet was looking her very loveliest
tonight, in beautiful white silk with
natural flowers. and there was unques-
tionably look of eager anticipation
in the eyes which she constantly turned
towards the door.
And there was really sufficientreason
for the heightened color that shone in
her cheeks tonight, for this young
cousin, Arthur Darcy. had been long
ago settled upon, by all the friends OF
both parties, rs most suitable match
for her. The young people were nat
VI 81 SOH2CiiidI siiiNA ~ vi NV II "
each other, that the thing would prob
ably have come about of itself if their
kind friends had not been so obtrusive,
and finally reused Miss Dennis
naughty spirit, SO that when young
Darcy offered himself she said she had
no fancy for being married to order,
and met him with fiat refusal. Stung
by this rejection, Darcy had sailed for
Europe Immediately, and it was not
until after he had left that Violet had
began to feel that perhaps she had
made a mistake. She was not girl
to repine, however, and she was young
and ardent and fond of society, and
she had been a very gay and popular
feature therein during these recent
years; but she had never had her heart
so really touched by any one as it had
been by the cousin she had, by her own
act, banished; and although she had
not been enough in love to pine for
him, she felt exhilarated at the thought
of seeing him again.
When the door opened at last and
he came in, looking very quiet and ele-
CANT in his evening dress, with his
smooth-shayen cheeks and brown mus
tache and somewhat bronzed complex
ion, Violet thought him good deal
changed, and yet she told him she
would have known him anywhere.
81 was scarcely more than lad
when l went away" he said, land
these are the years in which man
changes most. You are changed. too,
Violet, and for the better-which you
have not had the grace to say to me. l
should have known you, of course; but
with you it is different. There is an
infallible mark of Identification.
"Oh, you still remember the three
little moles, do you?" said Violet, put
ting her white hand up to her cheek
and laying her finger upon three tiny
dark-brown spots near the corner of
hGr right eye,
They were no larger than freckles,
and as they heightened the effect of
her brilliant complexion, her admirers
were apt to dwell upon them as one of
her chief beauties.
'Of course / remember them," said
Mr.. Darcy; land as they are ineradi-
cable, you could never succeed in hid
ing your identity from me, if you went
to the ends of the earth
There was rather tender intonation
in his voice as he said this, and Violet
felt her heart little stirred by the
sound of these familiar tones. They
were standing apart for a moment, and
no one heard her as she said, play
fully:
'1t was you who went to the ends of
the earth-not l."
at was you who sent me-" he said,
"and it is you who have brought me
back"
"Not consciously or voluntarily"
said Violet, with a touch of her old
bauteur.
mo; unconsciously and involuntar-
ily," he answered; ''but surely and un-
mistakably, for all that
There was no opportunity for further
conversation between them now, and
very soon dinner was announced, and
as they were separated there, it was
late before Mr.. Darcy found himself
again at Miss Dennis side. He had
fingered after all the guests had gone,
and now they were quite alone.
so you would have known me any
where, Violet?" he asked looking
down at her rather fondly as she stood
beside him.
Il could never fail to know Your
eyes" she said. "They, at least, have
not changed
Neither has the heart changed"
he said, gently. Every now and
then, when was far away, used to
fall into the most torturing doubt
about you. l had made up my mind
idiot that was-that | would never
came back to you. and that you could
never have loved me at all, if you could |
send me away like that. l think now that
perhaps -maybe-well, possibly was
mistaken. Was I?''
Il don't know" said Violet, not pre-
pared for immediate surrender.
There's one feeling l alw ays have
about you. When am in trouble or
worried, or when l think any one has
treated me badly, 1 always think of
you. 1 suppose it is having no father
or brother that makes me think of you
when l want some one to take care OF |
me. Now thing happened not long